Page:History of Indian and Eastern Architecture Vol 2.djvu/347

 CHAP. X. MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE 295 is hardly surpassed by any in India (Woodcut No. 424). It measures about 544 ft. east and west, by 474 ft. north and south over all. The mosque itself, 288 ft. by 66 ft, is crowned by three domes. In its courtyard, which measures 359 ft. 10 in. by 438 ft. 9 in., stand two tombs : that of Salim Chishti, wholly in white marble, and the windows with pierced tracery of the most exquisite geometrical patterns flowing tracery is a sub- sequent invention. It possesses besides a deep cornice of marble supported by brackets of the most elaborate design, so much 424. Mosque at Fathpur-Sikrl. (From a Plan by Lieut. Cole, R.E. so indeed as to be almost fantastic the only approach to bad taste in the place ; the other tomb, that of Islam Khan, is soberer and in excellent taste, but quite eclipsed by its surroundings. 1 Even these parts, however, are surpassed in magnificence by the southern or Buland (" Lofty ") gateway (A), 2 measuring 130 ft. by 88 ft. in plan, and of proportionate 1 Shaikh Islam Khan was a grandson of Shaikh Salim Chishti and married a sister of Abvil - Fazl. He was made governor of Bengal in 1608 and died in 1613. 2 The gateway B on the east side, is called the Badshahi or Royal gateway ; it is much smaller, though it faces the mosque.